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784 F.

2d 1048

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,


v.
Darren Andrew BLANDIN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 84-1041.

United States Court of Appeals,


Tenth Circuit.
March 3, 1986.
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Allan A. Hazlett, Topeka, Kan., for defendant-appellant.

Richard Hathaway, Asst. U.S. Atty. (Benjamin L. Burgess, U.S. Atty., and Kurt
J. Shernuk, Asst. U.S. Atty., on brief), Topeka, Kan., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before HOLLOWAY, Chief Judge, SEYMOUR, Circuit Judge, and WEST,


District Judge*

LEE R. WEST, District Judge.

Defendant was convicted after a jury trial of: (1) rape, [18 U.S.C. Secs. 1151,
1153, and 2031]; (2) burglary, [18 U.S.C. Secs. 1151 and 1153, and
Kan.Stat.Ann. Secs. 21-3716 and 21-4501]; (3) robbery, [18 U.S.C. Secs. 1151,
1153, and 2111]; (4) theft, [18 U.S.C. Secs. 1151, 1153, and 661]; and (5)
sodomy, [18 U.S.C. Secs. 1151, 7, and 13, and Kan.Stat.Ann. Secs. 21-3506, as
amended, and 21-4501]. All acts occurred on the Kickapoo Indian Reservation
in Kansas. At the date of his conviction, defendant was eighteen years old and
therefore eligible for sentencing under the Federal Youth Correction Act, 18
U.S.C. Secs. 5005-5026. The district court made an express finding of "no
benefit" and sentenced defendant under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 5010(c). On appeal,
defendant contends:

(1) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction;

(2) the district court erred in giving its Allen instruction;

(3) the district court erred in admitting the government's exhibits; and

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(4) the district court erred in sentencing defendant under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 5010(c)
because the court did not state supporting reasons for its express finding of "no
benefit."I.

Sufficiency of the evidence


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In reviewing a criminal conviction, we examine the evidence in the light most


favorable to the Government in order to determine whether the evidence, both
direct and circumstantial, together with all reasonable inferences to be drawn
therefrom, is substantial enough to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680
(1942); United States v. Kendall, 766 F.2d 1426 (10th Cir.1985). All
reasonable inferences and credibility choices must be made in support of the
jury's verdict. United States v. Massey, 687 F.2d 1348 (10th Cir.1982).

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The victim, V.M., was an acquaintance of defendant. At trial, V.M. positively


identified defendant as the man who broke into her home, raped her, sodomized
her, stole nine dollars and change from her purse, and then stole her car. V.M.
further testified that during the assault: (a) she smelled beer on defendant's
breath, (b) defendant asked V.M. if she liked "half breeds," and (c) defendant
asked V.M. if her car had automatic or standard transmission. Finally, V.M.
testified that defendant pulled panty hose around her neck so tight that she
could neither swallow nor breathe and threatened V.M. and her children should
she dare report the attack.

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V.M. immediately reported the attack. V.M. was initially examined by a family
physician. He described V.M. as emotionally traumatized. A pelvic
examination revealed blood in V.M.'s vaginal canal. The family physician
referred V.M. to a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology for further evaluation.
The specialist noted small hemorrhages on V.M.'s skin from mid to upper neck
in almost a straight line across her mid neck. A rectal examination revealed two
tears of the lining of V.M.'s rectum extending from the outside inward.

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Defendant was arrested not long after the attack, which occurred at 7:00 a.m.,
on August 28, 1983. Defendant admits he was drinking beer into the early
morning hours of August 28, 1983. Defendant is a Sac and Fox tribe enrollee
with 7/16th Indian blood. Defendant's car, inoperable on the day of the attack,
has a standard transmission. Defendant at first denied having seen V.M.'s car,
then later admitted knowing where her car could be found. V.M.'s car was
found in a soybean field approximately one-half mile from where defendant was
arrested.

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The dash of V.M.'s car had been torn apart and the car's eight-track tape/radio
and stereo speakers were piled up on the front seat. The radio knobs were
missing. Defendant admits trying to steal the eight-track tape/radio and
speakers. At his booking, defendant was in possession of radio knobs and ten
dollars and change. The large tennis shoes defendant was wearing at the time of
his arrest are similar in size and pattern to shoeprints found at V.M.'s house and
near her car. We hold the evidence is sufficient to sustain defendant's
conviction.

II.
The Allen instruction
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Defendant next contends the district court erred in giving its Allen instruction.
Allen v. United States, 164 U.S. 492, 17 S.Ct. 154, 41 L.Ed. 528 (1896). We
have approved the Allen instruction as permissible in the Tenth Circuit, but
urge caution in its use. United States v. Brunetti, 615 F.2d 899 (10th Cir.1980);
United States v. Dyba, 554 F.2d 417 (10th Cir.), cert. den. 434 U.S. 830, 98
S.Ct. 111, 54 L.Ed.2d 89 (1977). If the Allen instruction is given at all, it
should be incorporated into the body of the court's original instructions to the
jury. It should not be given during the course of deliberations. Munroe v.
United States, 424 F.2d 243 (10th Cir.1970); United States v. Wynn, 415 F.2d
135 (10th Cir.1969), cert. den. 397 U.S. 994, 90 S.Ct. 1133, 25 L.Ed.2d 402
(1970); United States v. Winn, 411 F.2d 415 (10th Cir.) cert. den. 396 U.S.
919, 90 S.Ct. 245, 24 L.Ed.2d 198 (1969). Caution should be used to ensure the
Allen instruction is not coercive.

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Here, the Allen instruction was given in the court's original instructions to the
jury. The wording of the district court's instruction was not "coercive so as to
influence the jury to reach a particular verdict." Dyba, 554 F.2d at p. 421. We
hold the district court did not err in giving its Allen instruction.

III.
Admission of evidence
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Defendant urges the district court erred in admitting the government's exhibits
into evidence.

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In United States v. Latimer, 780 F.2d 868, 870 (10th Cir.1985), we reviewed
the scope of the prosecutor's duty to turn over evidence to the defendant:

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Under
Brady [v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963) ], the
prosecution is required to turn over to the defendant evidence favorable or
exculpatory to the defendant's case when such evidence is material as to guilt or
punishment. In United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342
(1976), the Court articulated three situations where the Brady doctrine applies. First,
where the prosecution knew or should have known that its case contained perjured
testimony a conviction will be set aside "if there is any reasonable likelihood that the
false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury." Agurs at 103, 96 S.Ct.
at 2397. Second, where the prosecution fails to respond to a specific request for
information, a new trial should be granted if the withheld evidence might have
affected the outcome of the trial. Agurs at 104, 96 S.Ct. at 2397. Finally, where the
defendant generally requests exculpating evidence and such evidence is withheld,
reversal is required only if the omitted evidence "creates a reasonable doubt that did
not otherwise exist." Agurs at 112, 96 S.Ct. at 2401.
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Defendant contends the prosecution withheld unspecified exhibits from


defendant until the day of trial, then introduced these exhibits into evidence
against him. It is difficult to find support for this allegation in the record. The
record contains no specific request for any particular evidence, nor a general
request for Brady material or exculpatory information. Indeed, the parties'
briefs seem to indicate the government maintained this case as an "open file."
Further, defendant failed to make a contemporaneous objection at trial to the
introduction of any of the government's exhibits. Our examination of the trial
transcript reveals that when the prosecution offered the government's exhibits
into evidence, defendant explicitly stated he had no objection. Finally,
defendant has demonstrated no prejudice. He fails to show how the allegedly
suppressed evidence is favorable to him. He also fails to show the materiality of
the allegedly suppressed evidence.

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We strongly disapprove of delayed disclosure of Brady materials. United States


v. Warhop, 732 F.2d 775 (10th Cir.1984). Here, however, defendant has failed
to bear the required burden of demonstrating: (1) the prosecution suppressed
the evidence, (2) the favorable character of the suppressed evidence, and (3)
the materiality of the suppressed evidence. Warhop, 732 F.2d at 778. Further,
defendant failed to timely and properly object to the introduction of the
evidence at trial. Where no contemporaneous objection is made at trial, alleged
error will be reviewed on appeal only if it constitutes plain error. Fed.R.Crim.P.
52; United States v. Douglas, 668 F.2d 459 (10th Cir.) cert. den. 457 U.S. 1108,
102 S.Ct. 2908, 73 L.Ed.2d 1317 (1982); United States v. DeLuzio, 454 F.2d
711 (10th Cir.) cert. den. 407 U.S. 922, 92 S.Ct. 2467, 32 L.Ed.2d 808 (1972);
United States v. Nelson, 448 F.2d 1304 (10th Cir.1971). We find no plain error.
The prosecutor does not violate his constitutional duty of disclosure unless his

omission is of sufficient significance to result in the denial of the defendant's


right to a fair trial. Agurs, 427 U.S. at 108, 96 S.Ct. at 2399. We believe
defendant had a fair trial.
IV.
Sentencing under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 5010(c)
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For his fourth and final proposition, defendant urges the district court erred in
sentencing defendant under Sec. 5010(c) of the Federal Youth Corrections Act,
18 U.S.C. Secs. 5005-5026, because the court did not state supporting reasons
for its express finding of "no benefit." [Section 5010 has now been repealed,
Pub.L. 98-473, Title II, Sec. 218(a)(8), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2027.]
Defendant's argument is without merit. In Dorszynski v. United States, 418
U.S. 424, 94 S.Ct. 3042, 41 L.Ed.2d 855 (1974), appeal after remand, 524 F.2d
190 (7th Cir.1975), cert. den. 424 U.S. 977, 96 S.Ct. 1483, 47 L.Ed.2d 747
(1976), the Supreme Court held that in sentencing under Sec. 5010(d), an
express finding of no benefit must be made on the record, but the Act does not
require that it be accompanied by supporting reasons. Dorszynski, 418 U.S. at
pp. 425-426, 94 S.Ct. at 3044. We hold that the reasoning of Dorszynski under
Sec. 5010(d), that the district court need only make an express finding of no
benefit and need not give supporting reasons, is equally applicable to Sec.
5010(c).

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AFFIRMED.

The Honorable Lee R. West, United States District Judge for the Western
District of Oklahoma, sitting by designation

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